Heat exchanger unit



April 2, 1935. M, UN 1,996,499

HEAT EXCHANGER UNIT Filed Aug. :5, 1954 2 SheetsShet 1 HEAT EXCHANGER UN IT Filed Aug. 3, 1934 2-SheetsSheeC '2 7 M 2%,. y M9931 A 7' TOP/V5 Y Patented Apr. 2, 1935 UNITED m'r EXCHANGEB UNIT Fred M. Young, Racine, Wis., assignor to Young Radiator Company, Racine, Wis.

Application August 3, 1934, Serial No. 738,264

14 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a heat exchanger unit, having a more general application than has been common in devices of the class.

A further object is to provide a heat exchanger which will be neat, reliable, simple, compact, and economical.

I accomplish these objects by means oi. a novel header, novel motor supporting means, novel air directing means and a novel housing.

To these and other useful ends, my invention resides in features of construction, the parts and combination of parts, and mode of operation as hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of applicants heat exchanger unit.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the unit shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the unit shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a fractional section taken on line 4, of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the upper header.

Figure 6 is an end view of the header shown in Figure 5. a

Figure 7 is a top view of one of the housing members.

Figure 8 is a side view of the housing as shown in Figure '7; illustrating'the relative position of the fins and one form of air directing blades.

Figure 9 is an end view of one form of air directing means.

Figure 10 is an end view of another form of air directing means and a preferred form of circulating tubes.

Figure 11 is an end view of another form of air directing means.

Figure 12 is an enlarged view illustrating, fractionally, the outlet side of the unit housing and one combination of air directing blades, as illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 13 is a fractional section taken on line I8, of Figure 3, showing one of the tubes in section.

Figure 14 is a fractional end section taken on line H, of Figure 1, illustrating how the housing is attached to the header.

As thus illustrated numeral l, designates the upper header. The lower header is designated by numeral 2. I provide suitable tubes 3, preferably oblong in cross section as indicated in Figures 4 and 10. These tubes are rounded at their ends, as at d, (see Figure 13) thus (I) lit able wall thickness, the object, in addition to that 19 already stated, being to reduce the area of the inlet to the tubes, to thereby more evenly distribute the liquid fiow. This method will more nearly equalize the fin temperature and improve the heat transfer eiliciency of the unit. Various 5 capacity ferrules may be made and used on a standard unit, equipped with ferrules suitable for the liquid fiow in the specific installations for which the unit is intended.

It will be seen that the tubes are positioned with 20 their flattened sides transverse to the direction of air flow (see Figure 4). I provide openings in the outer walls of the headers, which register with the tube ends. These openings are sealed by means of screw threaded plugs 8, after the w tube ends have been made fast to the plates.

As is the custom in-units of the present class, I provide a multiplicity of closely spaced fins l2, having flanges l3, through which the tubes extend and are bonded.

I provide a rearwardly projecting hollow bracket M, the end of which is threaded for the pipe I5, with which the unit is connected to the heating system. In practice it is the intention that the pipes i5 and 3|, will answer as sole supports 5 for the unit, however, I provide projections It- IS into which supporting hooks may be screwed, which provide other means for supporting th unit when desired.

- Projection I4, is provided with a pair of ears 40 l'l-l I, forming a fiat surface to which the motor support 20 is attached by means of transverse pad 2|. Support "is provided with a lower pad 22, to which the fan motor 23 is attached, as

clearly indicated in Figures 2 and 3. The support 20 is made narrow, transverse to the direction of air fiow, as clearly indicated. I prefer an air fiow or tear drop shape in cross section, for this support, thus to offer minimum resistance to the' passing air.

The lower header is provided with a rearwardly projecting hollow bracket 30, forming a connection for supply pipe 3|, as indicated. It will be observed that the outside surfaces of headers i and 2 and projections I4 and 30 are on the w same plane, therefore the inside surfaces of these projections extend inwardly, thus to provide a formed from thin sheet metal as follows: a deco-- rative bead 33,}is positioned around the edges of the headers and a short distance from the inside surface thereof, forming a ledge as at 34 (see Figures 6 and 14); at suitable intervals I position lugs 35; the lugs 35 and ledge 34 provide suitable supporting and attaching meansfor the housings as will hereinafter appear.

Applicant's fins I! are slightly shorter than the distance between the ledges 34 on the ends of the headers and are positioned transversely a short distance from the ledge on the front of the headers and a greater distance from the rear lodge. I thus provide room at the rear for the fan blades and in front for the air directing blades as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.

As illustrated, 40 designates the end portion of the right hand housing and 4| the left hand housing end portion, when facing the unit from the front. 'I'hefronts of these housings are turned inwardly and then rearwardly, forming front members 4242 and rearwardly extending members 43-43 (see Figures 7 and 8). Members 43 are shortened and extend between the headers to within a short distance of the fins (see Figures 2 and 4).

I pivotally mount the ends of air directing blades 44 between members 43, as clearly indicated in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 12, by means of bolts 45 and a suitable friction washer as at 46. It will be seen that members 43 provide suitable supports for the blades 44 and that these blades may be moved manually to any desired angle.

Housing members 40 and 4| are bent inwardly as at 50, extending to within a short distance of the center of the headers, as at 5|, forming rear members 52 and 53, which are cutaway at their centers to thereby form a circularopening for the fan blades as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The housings thus fit around the headerson ledge 34 and are attached to lugs 35 by means of drive screws 54. Members 43 are cut short at the ends and extended inwardly between headers, thus providing decorative vertical side panels as well as supporting means for the air directing blades.

By referring to Figure 2, it will be observed that I have provided intermediate air directing means 6|, which is, preferably, in the form of air fiow blades, as also shown in Figure 12. For some installations I may elect to use the shape shown in Figure 9. Tubes 60, when used in combination with blades 44, are preferably held in a fixed position so as to direct the air current downwardly at about the angle shown. I may, however, elect to dispense with blades 44. and use blades 62, as indicated in Figures 8 and 11.

' ,In this event, the blades or deflectors 62, are

directing means, as illustrated in Figures 2, 8, 9-

and 11, which may be adjusted to any desirui angle but will offer the very least resistance to the air and will reduce air noises to the minimum. I provide a simple and inexpensive housing and a simple inexpensive motor support which will offer minimum resistance to air flow.

As thus illustrated and described, it will be observed, that the over all length of my unit heat exchanger is reduced to a minimum, making it desirable where the head room is limited. andfurther that my unit is compact, simple, pleasing in appearance and economical.

Having thus shown and described my invention I claim:

1. A heat exchanger unit, comprising a number of tubes having a multiplicity of closely spaced fins through which said tubes extend, forming a radiator core, suitable upper and lower headers for said core each having a rearwardly extending tube member forming an integral part thereof and having rearwardly directed pipe connection openings at their ends, a fan and motor adapted to force an air current through said core and having an outwardly extending support, said fan and motor support having a connection to the rearwardly extending member on one of said headers.

2. A heat exchange unit, comprising a number of tubes having a multiplicity of flns'through which said tubes extend, forming a radiator core, suitable upper and lower headers for said core having rearwardly extending inlet and outlet members, forming an integral part thereof and having rearwardly directed openings at their ends, a fan motor having an outwardly extending support, the outer end thereof having a connection to one of said members.

3. A heat exchange unit, comprising a number of tubes having a multiplicity of fins, through which said tubes extend, forming a radiator core, suitable upper and lower headers for said core, having rearwardly extending inlet and outlet members, forming an integral part thereof and having rearwardly directed openings at their ends, a fan motor and an outwardly extending support therefor, the rearwardly extending member on said upper header having means thereby to form a supporting connection for said fan motor support.

4. A heat exchanger unit, comprising a number of tubes and a multiplicity of fins through which said tubes extend, forming a core, upper and lower headers for said core, a fan motor and a support therefor attached to one of said headers, two housing members adapted to form side enclosures for said core and to embrace a portion of said headers, the front edges extending inwardly for a short distance and having a portion extending rearwardly between said headers terminating near said core, the rear of said housings adapted to contact the rear inner edges of said headers to within a short distance of the center thereof, having cut away portions forming a circular opening for the fan of .said motor.

5. A heat exchanger unit, comprising a number of tubes and a. multiplicity of fins through which inwardly around said headers for a short distance and having a portion extending rearwardly between said headers for a short distance, the

rear of said housing adapted to embrace the rear inner edges of said headers to within a short distance of the center thereof, and having cut away portions forming a circular opening for the fan of said motor, air directing means positioned between said rearwardly extending portions.

6. A heat exchanger unit, comprising a number of tubes and a multiplicity of fins through which said tubes extend, forming a core, upper and lower headers for said core, a fan motor and a support therefor attached to one of said headers, two housing members adapted to form side enclosures for said core and to embrace the inner ends of said headers, the front edges extending inwardly for a short distance and having a rearwardly extending portion positioned between said headers and terminating adjacent said core, the rear of said housings adapted to embrace the inner edges of said headers to within a short distance of the center thereof, and having cut away portions forming a circular opening for the fan of said motor, a number of transverse air directing means positioned between said rearwardly extending portions.

7. A heat exchanger unit, comprising a number of tubes and a multiplicity of fins through which said tubes extend, forming a core, upper and lower headers for said core, a fan motor and a support therefor attached to one of said headers,

two housing members adapted to form suitable enclosures for said core and to embrace a portion of the inner edges of said headers, the front of said housings extending inwardly a short distance and having a rearwardly extending portion positioned between said headers and terminating near said core, the rear of said housings adapted to engage the rear inner edges of said headers to within a short distance of the center thereof, and having cut away portions forming a circular opening for the fan of said motor, a number of transverse air directing members having an air foil shape in cross section positioned between said rearwardly extending portions, means whereby said air directing means may be manually adjusted to thereby change the angle of air flow.

8. A heat exchanger unit, comprising a number of tubes and a multiplicity of fins through which said tubes extend, forming a core, upper and lower headers for said core, a fan motor and a support therefor, two housing members adapted to form a suitable enclosure for said core and to contact the inner edges of said headers, the front of said housings extending inwardly for a short distance and having a rearwardly extending portion terminating near said core, the rear of said housing adapted to contact the rear inner edges of said headers to within a short distance of the center thereof, and having cut away portions forming a circular opening for the fan of said motor, a number of air directing means having an air foil shape in cross section, positioned transversely between said rearwardly extending portions.

9. A heat exchanger unit, comprising a number of tubes and a multiplicity of fins through which said tubes extend, forming a core, suitable headers for said core, a fan and motor adapted to force air through said core, a number of air directing members comprising tubes having an air foil shape in cross section and positioned in spaced apart parallel relation across the face of said core.

10. A heat exchanger header, comprising an inner tube wall and an outer wall, forming a narrow liquid chamber therebetween, a liquid connection projecting a short distance from one edge of said header, one side of which extends below the plane of said inner wall, the opening between the end of said connection and said chamber being narrowed transverse to-said inner wall and widened parallel to said inner wall.

11. A heat exchanger header, comprising an inner tube wall and an outer wall, forming a narrow chamber therebetween, a liquid or gas connection projecting from oneedge of said header, one side of which extends past the planeof the outer surface of said inner wall, the opening between the inlet of said connection and said chamber being narrowed transverse to said inner wall and widened parallel thereto, to thereby intersect said chamber, a number of circulating tube openings in the inner wall and corresponding openings in the outer wall having screw threaded plugs therefor.

12. A heat exchanger unit, comprising a number of tubes and a multiplicity of fins through which said tubes extend, forming a core, suitable headers for said core, housing members adapted .to form side enclosures for said core and to embrace the ends of said headers, a fan and motor adapted to force air through said core, a number of air directing members comprising blades having an air foil shape in cross section and positioned in spaced apart parallel relation across the face of said core having their ends attached to said side enclosures.

13. A heat exchanger unit, comprising a num ber of tubes and a multiplicity of fins through which said tubes extend, forming a core, suitable headers for said core, housing members adapted to form side enclosures for said core and to embrace the ends of said headers, a fan and motor adapted to force air through'said core, a number of air directing members comprising blades having an air foil shape in cross section and positioned in spaced apart parallel relation across the face of said core, said blades having pivotal supports at their ends to said enclosures, whereby the air may be directed at various angles.

14. A heat exchanger unit, comprising a number of tubes having a multiplicity of fins through which said tubes extend, forming a radiator core, suitable upper and lower headers for said core, having rearwardly extending inlet and outlet members forming-an integral part thereof and having rearwardly directed openings at their ends, a fan motor and an outwardly and forwardly extending support therefor, the rearwardly ex-. tending members on said headers stopping short of the rear end of said motor one of which having means thereby to form a supporting-connection for the outer end of said motor support.

FRED M. YOUNG. 

